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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

How To Embed Your Affiliate Links Into YouTube Videos

by Malcolm Leyshon

If you think that making your own videos is too difficult or time consuming you can find a lot of videos in the public domain that can be easily embedded in your website. For example, if you're promoting a network marketing program or affiliate product, you can enhance your promotion by looking on YouTube for someone else's video that describes the benefits of that particular program or product.

However, this may not be the best option because if someone watches the video and then goes to the video maker's YouTube page, they'll more than likely find that person's affiliate link and click on it instead of yours. This is only fair, though, as you're using their video on your website. To get around this, you can embed your affiliate links into other people's YouTube videos. This can be done quickly and easily, and it can be done entirely free of charge.

Method 1: LinkedTube.com

LinkedTube.com allows you to place a button that appears "on" the top of a YouTube video. You can add your own text or also add hover text that will appear when the viewer moves the cursor over the button. You can place your affiliate link in the button, so when someone clicks the button they're taken to your affiliate page.

This is very simple to do. First, you'll have to find a YouTube video you want to use on your website and then copy the video URL or video ID code. (This code will be in one of the fields to the right of the video on the YouTube page.)

Then, go to LinkedTube.com and paste the ID code or URL in the top field that you'll see on the right of that page. Next, add the button text that you want to appear. Enter your affiliate link in the third field. Other fields include how long you want the button to appear over the video and also add your hover text.

After the steps are completed hit the "Update Preview" link, and if everything looks okay, hit the "Save & Get Code" button. Your link code will be generated and can be seen by clicking the little arrow button to the right of the HQ button.

Copy and paste the link code into your web page where you want the video to appear. That's it! Method 2: BubblePly.com

BubblePly.com allows you to embed your affiliate link in a bubble that appears "in" the video screen. You can also choose from several styles of bubbles and the size and location it appears on the screen.

First, copy the YouTube video URL and paste it into the bubble URL field. Click the "Next" button, and you'll be taken to a screen where the video will start playing. Click the "Pause" button to stop the video, then select a bubble from the bubble menu. I suggest that you choose the plane bubble and stretch it so that it's wide enough to cover the width of the video. Once you've done that you'll be able to type in some text, then click a link button and insert your affiliate link.

Next, set the amount of time that you want your affiliate links to appear while the video is playing. To do that, slide the video tracking slider buttons at the bottom of the video screen to your preferred start and finish positions. Finally, click the "Done" button. Now you'll be able to copy the system-generated embed code and paste it into your web page where you want the video to show up.

No matter which method you decide to use, embedding your own affiliate link in or on the video will help you "level the playing field." Ask your readers and viewers to pass on the video to make it go viral. As long as they pass on the video that is on your page, they'll be passing on the embedded affiliate links as well.

Now there really is no excuse for not having video working for you on your website.

About the Author

For more information about how to start a home business and get a Recession Proof Business with Internet Work from Home Ideas and Opportunities at http://www.malcolmleyshon.com you will find a wide range of tried and tested ideas including a daily newsletter and a free 325 page e-book.

About This Library

Article sites are flooded with articles on Web Design and Search Engine Optimization (i.e. ways to get your site to show up high in the important search engines). Sometimes dozens of new articles are added every week. Most are not worth the effort it takes to read them. A few, however, are truly interesting and useful.

For this blog, the Cheap Web Hosting Report staff will post the best web design and search engine optimization articles we find on articles sites. We'll try our best to separate the small amount of meat from the piles of bone and gristle.